Will Murray

Send For Help — a lone worker protection firm in the world which provides 24/7 emergency response via personal safety alarms — has been included in this year's prestigious Financial Times ‘FT1000’ list of Europe’s fastest growing companies. The list comprises of the top 1000 companies in 31 countries across Europe that have achieved the highest percentage growth in revenues between 2013 and 2016. Send For Help was ranked 625th on the list — one of just 158 other companies from the UK included — thanks to revenue growth of 254% between 2013-2016 and an annual turnover of £8m for financial year 2016/17. Total staff numbers in 2016 stood at 70 — a rise of 34% over the same period. Employers increasingly recognize the legal, financial and reputational implications, should their staff get injured or assaulted" Affordable Technology The Surrey-based tech firm has a varied client roster across a large number of private and public sectors, including over 160 NHS trusts and major high-street retailers, city banks and national pub chains, estate agents, the police and more than 150 local authorities. “It has been a very busy year for Send For Help and to be featured on such a stellar list as this is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team,” said James Murray, CEO of Send For Help. “Demand for our services has risen for a variety of reasons. Our technology is cutting-edge, affordable and easy to use. Employers increasingly recognize the legal, financial and reputational implications, should their staff get injured or assaulted as a result of not implementing effective safeguards to prevent it,” he added. Fast Emergency Response Send For Help was founded in 2010 by brothers James and Will Murray. It operates three subsidiary brands — Skyguard, Guardian24 and Peoplesafe — protecting more than 150,000 people through key-fob sized personal safety devices and smartphone apps, which are linked to an alarm-receiving center staffed at the company’s headquarters in Epsom, Surrey. The firm has direct links to police control rooms, so it can bypass the 999 system and receive a faster emergency response if clients are threatened, attacked or are in danger.

Will Murray, Marketing Director of leading lone worker protection provider, Send For Help group, has been elected to Chair the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section. The appointment means that the Group now occupies an unprecedented three spaces on the Section Committee, with each subsidiary brand receiving representation. Operations Director, Ricardo Pombo and IMC Operations Manager, Nick Shea will be attending future BSIA meetings on behalf of Peoplesafe and Skyguard respectively. Will Murray will continue to represent Guardian24. Enhancing Send For Help’s Position As the largest supplier of lone worker protection globally, the new roles further enhance Send For Help’s position at the forefront of the lone working industry. The objectives of the BSIA’s Lone Worker Section are to raise awareness and educate the market, and assist in development of industry standards by working with key stakeholders. The BSIA (British Security Industry Association) is the trade association for the UK’s professional security industry, with its members comprising representatives from a number of organizations within the sector. On being elected to head up the Committee, Will Murray commented, “I’m absolutely thrilled to take on the role of Chairman. Having been involved with the BSIA for nearly 10 years, I’m looking forward to playing a greater part in helping to shape the industry and working closely with the Section to raise standards and promote safer lone working.” James Kelly, Chief Executive of the BSIA, commented, “As a membership organization, the BSIA’s members are the lifeblood of the Association and play a vital role in helping to drive the Association forwards. Our section chairmen dually serve their member company as well as the BSIA, dedicating time and effort to the development of the private security industry.”

With Skyguard and Guardian24, Send For Help protects more than 100,000 lone workers Send For Help, a lone worker protection provider, has just been announced as one of Britain’s fastest growing companies. The Fast Track 100 list, which is published annually in The Sunday Times, ranks Britain’s top 100 private companies with the fastest growing sales over their latest three years. Send For Help is ranked an impressive 47th in the league table for 2016. Pioneering Technology Brothers James and Will Murray founded the award-winning Send For Help in 2010, when they spotted a gap in the market to provide lone worker protection using pioneering technology. Operating through its two subsidiary brands Skyguard and Guardian24, the company uses key fob sized GPS personal safety alarms and apps to provide 24/7 personal protection to more than 100,000 lone workers and people who are at risk. Serving Commercial Organizations It primarily operates in the UK and Ireland, serving more than 100 NHS Trusts, 150 local authorities, 200 housing associations, and hundreds of commercial organizations, ranging from British Gas to Talk Talk, Dairy Crest to Weetabix.  The firm, which generated sales of £6.1m this year, is backed by family investment from James and Will’s father technology entrepreneur Jan Murray, former PC World and Internet Technology Group founder.  “This is a significant milestone for Send For Help and marks the end of a successful year for the business, which saw our annual turnover almost double. We’re exciting about building on this growth into 2017 and continuing to serve our clients,” said CEO James Murray. Save

The palm-sized MySOS device allows users to call for help at the press of a button Wood Green, the Animals Charity has turned to Skyguard – a personal safety service, by equipping their lone workers with Skyguard’s award-winning MySOS personal alarms. Ensuring Staff Protection The charity, which has grown over the last 90 years to become one of the UK’s leading animal welfare organisations, have a range of lone working activities that present an inherent level of risk. This includes employees entering domestic properties on home check-ups to maintenance staff working alone in remote areas. With any form of lone working, a robust policy should be in place to ensure staff are adequately protected when performing their duties. Wood Green decided that adopting Skyguard’s MySOS lone worker alarms provided a vital additional layer of security. Meeting Safety Requirements Speaking about the implementation of Skyguard, Tom O’Connell, Protection and Welfare Services Manager for Wood Green commented, “With the reputation of being the leading brand of lone working safety devices and response support, I felt confident and assured that we were placing the safety of our staff in professional hands.” “With the easy to use and innovative devices backed up by fully trained, professional response staff the choice really was straight forward.” With two-way audio and GPS, help is never far away and Controllers at Skyguard’s Incident Management Centre can direct emergency response to the user’s exact location, fast Easy And Quick Operations The palm-sized MySOS device allows users to call for help at the press of a button. With two-way audio and GPS, help is never far away and Controllers at Skyguard’s Incident Management Centre can direct emergency response to the user’s exact location, fast. With the options of ‘Mandown’ fall alarm capability and Roaming SIM cards which operate across all mobile networks providing reception in known black-spots, never has lone worker protection been so comprehensive. Skyguard’s service is fully accredited to the highest lone working industry standards including BS 8484, BS 5979 (Cat II) and Secured by Design. Outstanding Device And Service Quality Tom O’Connell continues, “The devices are discreet and very easy to use which is key when supplying them to a range of staff.” “Skyguard’s service supports our staff operationally and ensures that we are meeting our health and safety obligations regarding duty of care… it’s a win-win scenario.” “The quality of the devices and level of service supplied is outstanding. It provides the peace of mind that we, as an employer, have ensured that our staff are being monitored by professionals when they’re exposed to higher risk activity.” Skyguard’s Marketing Director Will Murray added, “As a responsible employer who understands the risks faced by their lone working staff, Wood Green have put in place all appropriate measures to ensure they have a robust lone working policy. We’re here to provide their employees with fast and effective backup should any of their staff face the risk of injury, assault or accident.”

The BSIA’s constitution dictates that committee member elections are held on an annual basis via secret ballot Send For Help Group has been re-elected its two committee memberships of the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Lone Workers Section; one for each of its subsidiary companies. Will Murray, Marketing Director, has been re-elected as representative for Guardian24, and Ben Hawkins, Incident Management Center Manager, has been re-elected to represent Skyguard. The BSIA’s constitution dictates that committee member elections are held on an annual basis via secret ballot to all of the Section’s members. A maximum of eight places are available on the influential committee; seven of which have been occupied in the recent election. Development And Revision Of Industry Standards The committee’s role is to set the Lone Workers Section strategy and vote on key decisions, on behalf of the wider Section membership. Committee members can also play an important role in the development and revision of industry standards, as part of the British Standards Institution (BSI) review panels. This is the case with the Send for Help Group’s two committee members, who sit on the BSI panel which has recently completed the redrafting of BS 8484, (British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services) – due for publication later this year. Send For Help Group’s Chief Executive, James Murray comments, “I’m delighted that both of our subsidiaries have maintained their seats on this strategic committee, which is testament to the high esteem they hold within the industry.” “The UK is leading the world in the lone worker protection market, and the BSIA’s Section is the most prominent working group in the UK driving this forward. Having such a strong representation within this influential committee is invaluable to our business in maintaining its position at the forefront of the industry.” “I congratulate my colleagues on their re-appointments and I have no doubt they will continue to play an instrumental role; both in raising industry standards and developing the market.”

Guardian24’s app gives users the ability to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency Guardian24 – the UK and Ireland’s lone worker protection provider have been entrusted to protect Gateway Family Services’ outreach staff via Smartphone apps. Health And Well-Being Services As a Community Interest Company, Gateway Family Services works with the NHS and Local Authorities to provide health and well-being services to communities in Birmingham and the West Midlands. These services are delivered by Pregnancy Outreach Workers and Health Trainers, who give one-to-one advice to clients in the community; often working alone which puts them at greater risk should an incident occur. Having investigated various lone worker protection solutions, Gateway found Guardian24’s Smartphone app the most reliable and effective; consequently they ordered 60 licenses for their outreach staff. Guardian24 App Available on all major operating platforms and certified to the lone worker standard - BS 8484, Guardian24’s app gives users the ability to raise the alarm in the event of an emergency. It also allows lone workers to log in and out of daily tasks, leaving details of their location and the expected duration. If an activity over runs Guardian24 will automatically call the lone worker to verify their safety. If the lone worker cannot be reached nominated respondents will be notified informing them of the overrun activity. This is a feature which Gateway have found invaluable. Effective System Assures Security Danny Dhadda, who manages one of the Outreach teams for Gateway, commented, “With Guardian24’s app our workers have the reassurance that there is an effective system and protocols in place if for any reason a visit was to go awry, or if they felt unsafe and uncertain at any time while out in the community.” “The most impressive aspects of the service is the speed at which we can be informed as an On-call Manager that a visit has overrun and the fact that an individual can be located through GPS, if an incident was to occur. We have clear protocols for a genuine emergency, and code words that Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Centre can listen out for if they need to. It is also quick and easy for our staff to log an activity.” Will Murray, Guardian24’s Marketing Director added, “Every organization has a legal obligation to reduce and mitigate the safety risks faced by their staff while doing their job. Implementing an accredited personal safety solution such as Guardian24’s can form a key component of Health and Safety Policies, provided they are fully integrated and backed-up with robust procedures and staff training. “It’s encouraging to see that is exactly how Gateway Family Services have approached it and are now reaping the benefits through improved staff safety, confidence and morale.”

With GPS, 2-way communications, Mandown fall detector & voice-memo, MySOS is ideal for lone worker safety TalkTalk, the UK’s leading value for money provider of broadband, mobile and TV services, has turned to Skyguard to help protect their field engineers while working alone and out of hours. A Complete Lone Worker Protection Solution With any form of lone working, a robust policy should be in place to ensure staff is adequately protected when performing their duties. With that in mind, TalkTalk selected 120 MySOS personal safety devices for use by their engineers. The keyfob-sized alarm enables users to call for help in an emergency at the touch of a button. With GPS-technology, two-way audio communications, ‘Mandown’ fall detector and voice-memo (amber alert) functionality, the MySOS is the complete, fully accredited solution for lone worker protection. In the event of an incident, a user activates the alarm on their MySOS device. The alarm is sent via mobile phone technology to Skyguard’s 24/7 Incident Management Center. There, experienced Controllers immediately know who the user is, their profession, medical history – even what they look like – (all this information is treated in total confidence). Because the MySOS is GPS enabled, Controllers will know where they are. They’ll listen to ambient sound in their vicinity. If it’s safe to do so, they’ll talk to them. They’ll review their individual information and preferred action in case of emergency. Within seconds, a course of action will be decided upon. It may be summoning an emergency service, Skyguard’s own National Response Service, or someone designated by the client. Whatever Skyguard do, the action taken is designed to neutralize the threat or resolve the incident as quickly as possible. The small-size of the MySOS was a key factor in TalkTalk’s decision to use Skyguard. “All the other options were too bulky and we wanted a supplier that reflected our own agile approach,” states Alan Cowlishaw, Compliance Engineer for TalkTalk. “It’s also very easy to use and the price was competitive. All in all, it’s complete peace of mind that our Engineers have protection when out working.” Skyguard’s Marketing Director Will Murray added “It’s vital that organizations adopt a rigid lone worker policy. With fines of up to £20 million for serious health and safety breaches, this is a clear message to businesses that lone worker safety must be prioritized. TalkTalk have demonstrated their commitment to the safety and wellbeing of their Engineers by equipping them with the MySOS device.”

It’s efficient, easy to use, has great coverage and the back-up and technical support are the most impressive elements Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust has turned to Skyguard’s BS 8484 approved personal alarms to safeguard their community-based staff tasked with providing in-home services.  Provides Discreet Protection For Lone Working Staff Skyguard’s keyfob sized MySOS devices were implemented as a means of discreet protection for lone working staff to carry on their person. Accredited to BS 8484 standards, the device is equipped with the latest mobile phone and GPS tracking technology. When the user raises the alarm, an alert is instantly sent to Skyguard’s dedicated Incident Management Center (IMC) along with the GPS location. Using the alarm’s two-way audio, trained Controllers will first listen in and assess the situation before talking to the user and taking appropriate action. Using the escalation instructions provided, the Controller will, if necessary, directly contact the local police control room, bypassing the 999 service for a faster response. All audio and actions from the incident are digitally recorded and can be used as legal evidence if required. More Focus On Providing Services To Community Tom Sanders – Health and Safety Advisor for the Trust explains, “There is currently more focus on providing services out in the community. In Derbyshire, we have several areas of deprivation with high unemployment which makes relationships between community staff and patients difficult to establish and maintain.” Distributing the devices amongst their wide ranging community-based teams has increased the confidence of those attending in-home appointments. The device is small enough to provide adequate protection while not being obvious to an aggressor. Sanders continues, “It’s efficient, easy to use, has great coverage and the back-up and technical support are the most impressive elements.” “Our staff now have more confidence going into potentially tricky situations, knowing that help is at hand should it be necessary to activate the device.” Skyguard Marketing Director, Will Murray added “We’re delighted to add Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Trust to our ever growing healthcare client base. Skyguard now provide lone worker protection to over 100 NHS Trusts across the UK and this continues to grow based on the solid reputation we’ve built across the sector in recent years.”

The flexible design of the MicroGuard enables RCT Homes’ staff to wear the device discreetly in a number of ways Social housing provider, RCT Homes has selected Guardian24’s state-of-the-art MicroGuard device to protect their lone working and at-risk employees. Protecting Housing Staff  RCT Homes, is a registered social landlord to over 11,000 properties in a diverse and highly disadvantaged area of South Wales. From allocating housing and collecting rent to major home refurbishments, RCT Homes’ employees are regularly involved within the community. Much of the work performed by RCT Homes involves employees working alone in tenants’ homes. Without immediate help at hand, Housing staff are exposed to a greater risk of assault, attack or sustaining injury while performing their duties. After consulting with Guardian24, RCT Homes decided to replace their incumbent personal safety alarms with over 250 MicroGuard devices. With the ever growing problem of attacks on Housing Officers, it was essential for RCT Homes that the safety device they were using had two-way audio capabilities, something their previous solution had lacked. The MicroGuard would enable users to raise an alarm simply by pressing the device’s central SOS button. This would connect them to Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Center (ARC) where two-way audio enables a trained Controller to either listen in to the situation, or speak if safe to do so. Two-Way Audio Capability For Enhanced Security The MicroGuard also features a voice memo button, allowing the user to leave a pre-alert message with details such as where they are going and who they are meeting. ARC Controllers can then listen to this information as soon as an alarm is raised. The flexible design of the MicroGuard enables RCT Homes’ staff to wear the device discreetly in a number of ways - as pendant on a lanyard, attached to a belt holster, or ID card or carried as a keyring. This is a crucial element of the device, allowing it to remain unseen by an aggressor in potentially dangerous situations. Certified to the highest industry standards, including ‘Secured by Design’ and BS 8484, Guardian24 are able to summon the highest level of Police response to assist the user. The Guardian24 service proved a success when an incident occurred during one employee’s visit to a tenant’s home. The tenant became verbally aggressive towards the member of staff who subsequently pressed the alarm button. Controllers at the ARC were able to listen in to the situation and once it was safe to speak, confirmed the safety of the member of staff and contacted managers within RCT Homes. Claire Overd, Support Services Team Manager at RCT Homes commented, “We were impressed by the device’s ability to listen in and have two-way communication. It’s necessary for us that all staff can speak with a responder should something like this happen again.” Will Murray, Guardian24’s Marketing Director added, “Fortunately, on this occasion the employee was not physically harmed, but it’s a sad fact that changes to the benefits system are leading to an increase in violence towards housing staff. “As Guardian24 is certified to the highest possible industry standards, every alarm we receive is treated as life-threatening and our Controllers will keep the alarm open until they are certain the individual is safe.”

The software enables users to quickly and discreetly raise an alarm in the event of an emergency, even when the phone’s keypad is locked Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have turned to Guardian24 to help provide their Duty of Care to the charity’s lone workers by equipping them with the latest in smartphone app technology. The software enables users to quickly and discreetly raise an alarm in the event of an emergency, even when the phone’s keypad is locked. Customer RNIB have a large number of staff who visit people in their homes and offer support to meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. However, the majority of these staff work alone. Because there’s no immediate help at hand, lone working staff are immediately exposed to a greater risk of injury, assault or accidents. RNIB wanted a cost-effective solution to help improve their personal safety, especially as some of the staff are visually and/or hearing impaired. As one of the most well-known and respected charities in the UK, RNIB understands the importance of lone worker protection, both from a standpoint of personal wellbeing as well as the charity’s reputation. Guardian24’s Smartphone Application Users of Guardian24’s smartphone application can leave details of their movements and whereabouts via their mobile phone. If a user fails to notify the system when they finish a task, Guardian24 will attempt to contact them. If they do not answer and their safety cannot be verified, Guardian24 will then escalate the incident conforming to RNIB’s personalized emergency procedures. If a user feels at risk, they can also call for help via the ‘Panic Alarm’ function by pressing an assigned key on their mobile device, even if it is locked or in standby mode. This will call Guardian24’s dedicated 24 hour Alarm Receiving Centre. Using the GPS capability of the phone, the lone worker can also be easily located. All recordings are saved and can be used as evidence in court if required. The application, an easy install on all major smartphone operating systems, comes with a wealth of options including GPS tracking and locating. Because no hardware is involved, the service is cost-effective. There are often budget challenges, especially for charities who aim to apportion the majority of income on their core objectives. With Guardian24’s smartphone application, there’s no upfront cost and only a minimal service subscription to pay - a point that’s not lost on Glenn Hurst of the RNIB Supplier Management Team. Result “There will always be budget challenges in getting something like this approved. So, the more cost effective the solution, the better it is for all.” However, it’s also finding the right balance for lone worker provision based upon the employee’s needs, as Glenn explains, “Some of the staff at RNIB using this service are visually and/or hearing impaired. This service meets their needs as well as providing an excellent, easy to use lone worker reporting and monitoring tool.” Guardian24’s Marketing Director, Will Murray added “Every organization in the UK is required to fulfill a legal and moral Duty of Care towards their employees. Safe working arrangements for lone workers are no different to organizing the safety of other employees. RNIB recognize this and have thus acted accordingly by adopting a lone worker protection solution. And with over 35,000 active subscribers to our service, RNIB can rest assure their lone worker’s safety is in expert hands with Guardian24.”

Visitors to the show will be able to see live demonstrations of Skyguard’s exclusive product range on their stand Skyguard will be showcasing a brand new version of its exclusive ‘MySOS’ personal safety alarm at this year’s Lone Worker Safety Conference, held at the Olympia Conference Centre on 24th November. The MySOS which already includes GSM, GPS and Man-down technologies, has been further enhanced by Skyguard with a number of new features in an updated key-fob sized design. Fully certified to BS 8484, the British Standard for Lone Worker Devices, the new MySOS will offer increased functionality while still retaining the title of Europe’s smallest personal safety alarm. Easy To Carry And Use Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray said, “We are really excited to showcase the new version of our award-winning MySOS, at this year’s Lone Worker Safety Conference. “The original MySOS has been proven in use, delivering effective help to tens of thousands of vulnerable people, while being convenient to carry and easy to use. The latest version incorporates even more safeguarding features but maintains the simple and flexible design which made its predecessor so successful.” Visitors to the show will be able to see live demonstrations of Skyguard’s exclusive product range on their stand, including the new MySOS device, as well as Smartphone software applications. Emergency Response Solutions Skyguard’s products enable the user to raise an alarm in emergency at the touch of button, to their purpose-built, 24/7, Incident Management Centre. Here, trained Controllers can view the user’s GPS location and registered profile information, silently listen-in, and talk to the user if it’s safe to do so. Controllers will follow the user’s personalized emergency procedures which could include escalating to the Emergency services, Skyguard’s National Response Service, or the employer’s own nominated contacts, and guide them to the user’s location. As Skyguard owns and is certified to all three parts of the Lone Worker standard BS 8484 (the company, the device and the ARC), this enables them to provide the highest level of police response. As a result, Skyguard have secured Unique Reference Numbers (URN’s) for all the UK’s Police forces, giving them direct access to Police control rooms and bypassing the 999 service. This process guarantees a faster response in the event of an emergency and can often prove life-saving.

The app allows users to discreetly raise alarm and directly link them with Controllers at Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Centre Guardian24, the leading lone worker protection solution for the UK and Ireland, are working with Northern Ireland based charity, Niamh (the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health), to protect their lone working support workers. By equipping them with Guardian24’s smartphone safety application, Niamh’s staff can quickly and discreetly call for help in the event of any emergency. Niamh is the largest and longest established independent charity focusing on mental health and wellbeing services in Northern Ireland. At the core of Niamh’s services is the community-based support it provides to people who have had experience of mental illness. Niamh recognize that supporting people within supported housing and the community is both rewarding and, often, challenging. According to a recent report, nationally, nine out of ten social workers have suffered verbal and physical abuse while working. Niamh already have robust risk policies, procedures and training in place for practicing safe lone working, but equipping staff with a mobile-based means of raising an alarm in the event of an emergency was agreed to be a necessary requirement as an additional level of support. Directly Links With Controllers At Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Centre The charity has opted for Guardian24’s smartphone application which can be easily installed on their employee’s existing Android-operated mobile phones. The application allows users to discreetly raise an alarm in the event of an emergency, directly linking them with Controllers at Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Centre. The software also comes equipped with a ‘check in/check out’ function, allowing lone workers to log in and out of daily tasks, leaving details of their location and the expected duration. If an activity over runs, Guardian24 will automatically call the lone worker to verify their safety. If the lone worker cannot be reached, a nominated respondent will be notified informing them of the overrun activity. "With Guardian24’s ARC response being a part of the service this has provided staff with reassurance that in the event of an emergency somebody will be listening live within seconds", said Vincent Lavery, Head of Corporate Services, Niamh Guardian24’s service is fully accredited to the highest industry standards, including BS 8484:2011, BS 5979 (Category II) and ‘Secured by Design’. Having these certifications enable Guardian24 to request a priority “Level 1” response from the local Police force – thus providing a far quicker deployment of the emergency services over more traditional methods. A Greater Degree Of Confidence Amongst Lone Workers Vincent Lavery – Head of Corporate Services at Niamh commented, “Niamh have a robust procurement process with a critical element being quality and assurance. BS 8484 meets this and therefore enables us to demonstrate not only quality but also a value for money solution. Within the social care sector this is critical.” “As a result of using Guardian24’s technology, there is a greater degree of confidence amongst Lone Workers plus a realization that as a responsible employer we place their safety squarely front and center.” “Staff has embraced this and have all stated they find it an excellent piece of technology to give further assurance. Staff buy-in is evident when running usage reports as we are able to see instantly that they are now using Guardian24 to log every lone worker visit. With Guardian24’s ARC response being a part of the service this has provided staff with reassurance that in the event of an emergency somebody will be listening live within seconds.” Guardian24’s Marketing Director, Will Murray added “Guardian24 has vast experience working to protect thousands of support and social workers. We understand that the threats they face on a daily basis can be frightening and we take each and every one of those worker’s safety incredibly seriously. Our mobile phone application has been developed with ease of use in mind to ensure help can be summoned fast in the event of an incident.”

Among other features, the new MySOS has an extended battery life of up to 50 hours Skyguard – Europe’s premier personal safety service, are exhibiting at this year’s Health and Safety North event, held at the Bolton Arena. Taking place from 7-8th October 2015, the event will showcase Skyguard’s new and improved MySOS device, along with their range of award-winning personal safety solutions. New Features The MySOS, which was already the smallest and lightest device in Europe, has now been made even smaller in this latest version, yet contains more functionality. Amongst other new features, the device now discreetly vibrates to confirm an alarm initiation, and has an extended battery life of up to 50 hours. Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray said: “With its advanced functionality and smaller design, we are delighted to be demonstrating the new and improved MySOS to visitors of Health and Safety North.” For a demonstration of the new MySOS and Skyguard’s range of personal safety solutions visit stand number F8, throughout the two day event.

Will Murray re-elected as Guardian24 representative, while Ben Hawkins has been newly appointed to represent Skyguard The Send For Help Group, Europe’s largest lone worker protection provider, has been elected two committee memberships of the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Lone Workers Section; one for each of its subsidiary companies. Will Murray, Marketing Director, has been re-elected as representative for Guardian24, while Ben Hawkins, Incident Management Center Manager, has been newly appointed to represent Skyguard. Redrafting BS 8484, The British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services The BSIA’s constitution dictates that Section Committee Member elections are held on an annual basis via secret ballot to the Section’s members. A maximum of eight places are available on the influential committee; seven of which have been occupied in the recent election. The Committee’s role is to set the Section strategy and vote on key decisions, on behalf of the wider Section membership. Committee members can also play an important role in the development and revision of industry standards, as part of British Standards Institute (BSI) review panels. This is the case with the Send for Help Group’s two committee members, who sit on the BSI panel which is currently redrafting BS 8484, (British Standard for Lone Worker Device Services) – due for publication in 2016. BSIA’s Section, The Leading Group In The Lone Worker Protection Market Send For Help Group’s Chief Executive, James Murray comments, “I’m delighted that both our subsidiaries are represented on such a prominent committee, which is testament to the high esteem they hold within the industry. “The UK is leading the world in the lone worker protection market, and the BSIA’s Section is the leading group within the UK driving this forward. Having such a strong representation within this influential group, is invaluable to the business in maintaining its position at the forefront of the industry. “I congratulate my colleagues on their appointments and I have no doubt they will continue to play an instrumental role; both in raising industry standards and developing the market.”

Several member companies will be showcasing latest lone worker technology and offering expert insights on protecting employees Members of the BSIA’s Lone Worker section are looking forward to another successful year at the Safety and Health Expo which runs alongside IFSEC International as part of UBM’s wider Protection and Management Series. Taking place over the 16-18th June 2015, the Safety and Health Expo brings exhibitors together with an impressive audience of buyers and specifiers. Comprises Of Lone Worker Products And Services Specialist Companies The BSIA’s Lone Worker section comprises of companies who specialize in providing lone worker products and services to customers across a wide range of industry backgrounds. Several member companies will be showcasing the latest in lone worker technology and offering expert insights on protecting employees that work unsupervised over the course of the event. James Kelly, Chief Executive at the BSIA, comments: “Last year’s move to London created a real buzz around the Safety and Health Expo, so in 2015 – with the show now firmly established in the capital – our expectations are that it will continue to grow from strength to strength. Three issues close to the BSIA’s heart – innovation, education and sharing best practice – are all key to the show’s program in 2015, and as such, the Association is delighted to reinforce its keen support of the event.” Several BSIA members have shared their own previews of the technology and services that they will be showcasing at the Safety and Health Expo, brief excerpts from these previews are detailed below: Blackline Safety Safety and Health Expo, Stand M2060 Blackline GPS will be introducing the Loner Duo, a Bluetooth accessory which complements the Loner Mobile Safety monitoring application. Blackline’s Loner Duo pairs with a smartphone using low-power Bluetooth Smart technology and empowers Blackline’s Loner Mobile app with rigorous safety monitoring features equivalent to dedicated devices from Blackline Safety. Gavin Boorman, Managing Director of Blackline GPS Europe Ltd thinks that the Safety and Health Expo is a must-attend event that should be on everyone’s safety and security calendar, “Blackline has exhibited at IFSEC and the co-located Safety and Health Expo for several years. We have found great success each year and look forward to meeting organizations from every industry at this year’s exhibition.” Blackline GPS will be on stage in the Lone Working Arena between 15:30 and 16:00 on the 16th and between 11:00 and 11:30 on the 18th. Peoplesafe Safety and Health Expo, Stand M2050 "Three issues close to the BSIA’s heart – innovation, education and sharing best practice – are all key to the show’s program in 2015,..." Peoplesafe will be demonstrating all of the devices in their portfolio including the Identicom 877, Defender smartphone application and Peoplesafe smartphone application. They will also be introducing the SPOT Gen3 Satellite Device which gives a critical, life-saving line of communication when traveling beyond the reach of mobile service. Speaking on behalf of Peoplesafe, Managing Director Ian Johannessen believes that: “The BSIA Lone Worker Theatre initiative meets the need for professionals with a responsibility for an organization’s people safety management to hear some expert lone worker safety insights. Peoplesafe is playing a leading role in supporting the theater with two client case studies.” Peoplesafe will be on stage in the Lone Working arena between 12:30 and 13:00 on the 16th and between 13:15 and 13:45 on the 17th. Skyguard Safety and Health Expo, Stand M2150 Skyguard will be demonstrating all of their products at this year’s show including a new version of their award winning MySOS device which is being unveiled for the first time. The MySOS personal safety device will also be sign-posted to visitors in the show’s ‘Innovation Trail’. Speaking ahead of the show, Marketing Director Will Murray explained, “The Safety and Health Expo provides an ideal opportunity for Skyguard to meet with prospective buyers across vertical markets and demonstrate our latest product innovations.” Skyguard will also be on stage in the Lone Working Arena between 12:30 and 13:00 on the 17th and between 13:15 and 13:45 on the 18th. Members of the BSIA will have access to the Association’s Members’ Lounge at IFSEC International throughout the show, with seating available for meetings and coffee breaks. Join BSIA on stand B1350 to find out more about the benefits of Association membership, or to find a reputable security supplier.

MySOS has been enhanced by Skyguard with a no. of new features in an updated key-fob sized design Skyguard will be unveiling a brand new version of its exclusive ‘MySOS’ personal safety alarm at the 2015 Safety and Health Expo, held at London’s Excel between 16th to 18th June. MySOS Offers Increased Functionality The MySOS which already includes GSM, GPS and Man-down technologies has been further enhanced by Skyguard with a number of new features in an updated key-fob sized design. Fully certified to BS 8484, the British Standard for Lone Worker Devices, the new MySOS will offer increased functionality whilst still retaining the title of Europe’s smallest personal safety alarm. Marketing Director, Will Murray said, “We are really excited to launch the new version of our award-winning MySOS, at this year’s Safety and Health Expo.” “The original MySOS has been proven in use, delivering effective help to tens of thousands of vulnerable people, whilst being convenient to carry and easy to use. The latest version incorporates even more safeguarding features but maintains the simple and flexible design which made its predecessor so successful.” Skyguard’s MySOS To Be Demonstrated In Lone Worker Arena Skyguard will be demonstrating the new MySOS on their exhibition stand in the Lone Worker Arena and the product will be sign-posted to visitors in the show’s ‘Innovation Trail’. "The latest version incorporates even more safeguarding features but maintains the simple and flexible design which made its predecessor so successful" In addition to exhibiting, Skyguard will also be hosting two educational seminars at the show’s dedicated ‘Lone Worker Theater’, on Wednesday and Thursday. Presented by two of Skyguard’s key clients, the seminars will explain best practice and real life cases of how to effectively implement a lone worker solution. Visit Skyguard on stand M2150 in the Safety & Health Expo, to see demonstrations of the new MySOS device and other exclusive lone worker products.

A range of exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the latest security solutions to delegates With just over a week to go until the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) hosts its annual South East Business Crime Conference, the Association has announced details of the exhibitors set to demonstrate the very latest in security solutions first-hand to delegates at the show. The half day conference, taking place in the heart of Westminster on Thursday 27th November will address topics as wide-ranging as the Anti-Social Behaviour and Policing Act 2014, cyber-crime, community safety, the Met Police’s business crime strategy and business crime reporting systems. A range of exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the latest security solutions to delegates at the accompanying exhibition, providing an opportunity for delegates to engage with security providers, identify potential solutions for specific security challenges as well as gain insights into the latest technology relevant to their specific field. Among the exhibitors are providers of lone worker protection technology, asset and property marking solutions and intruder alarms, while event sponsors, Facewatch and Littoralis, will also be on hand to demonstrate their latest products and services.  The full exhibitor list includes: Bank of England CQR Fire and Security Selectamark Security Systems Skyguard Limted Churchill Security Systems Ltd Littoralis Facewatch Commander Securities Ltd With over 70 delegates now pre-registered to attend the event, and many more expected on the day, the conference provides exhibitors with the opportunity to reach out to a number of end-users and potential customers from a range of business sectors. Last year’s South East Business Crime Conference attracted a number of organizations from across the South East, including Waterstones Booksellers Ltd, Eastbourne Arndale Centre and the University of Portsmouth. Will Murray, Marketing Director at Skyguard, commented: “Skyguard are delighted to be showcasing our exclusive range of personal safety alarms and apps at the BSIA’s South East Crime Conference. We have exhibited at a number of BSIA regional events in the past and always found them to be an effective way of reaching those decision makers who may not attend the bigger national events.”

Skyguard will be showcasing their range of personal safety devices and smartphone apps at the event Skyguard will be showcasing their exclusive range of personal safety devices and smartphone apps at this year’s Lone Worker Safety Conference, held at the Olympia Conference Centre on 25th November. Visitors to the show will be able to see live demonstrations of Skyguard’s product range on their stand, including the recently launched iPhone app, which converts the handset into a fully functional personal safety device. The app is an expansion of Skyguard’s range which includes software for Android, Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Mobile handsets, as well as analog phones. Skyguard will also be demonstrating the MySOS – Europe’s smallest and lightest safety device featuring GPS, GPRS, GSM and Mandown technologies. The key fob-sized MySOS, can be discreetly worn as pendant, attached to a belt or keyring, or as an ID badge using the clip-on accessory. The MySOS is also accredited to the highest industry standards; BS 8484 and ACPO’s ‘Secured by Design’ scheme. In addition to exhibiting, Skyguard will also be hosting a seminar, “Delivering Effective Lone Worker Protection”, which will explain lone working best practices and issues to consider. Skyguard’s products enable the user to raise an alarm in emergency at the touch of button, to their purpose-built, 24/7, Incident Management Centre. Here, trained controllers can view the user’s GPS location and registered profile information, silently listen-in, and talk to the user if it’s safe to do so. Controllers will follow the user’s personalized emergency procedures which could include escalating to the Emergency services, Skyguard’s National Response Service, or the employer’s own nominated contacts, and guide them to the user’s location. As Skyguard owns and is certified to all three parts of the Lone Worker standard BS 8484 (the company, the device and the ARC), this enables them to provide the highest level of police response. As a result, Skyguard have secured Unique Reference Numbers (URN’s) for all the UK’s Police forces, giving them direct access to Police control rooms and bypassing the 999 service. This process guarantees a faster response in the event of an emergency and can often prove life-saving. Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray said “With the addition of iPhone software to our range, Skyguard can now offer industry-leading solutions on every major smartphone operating system, as well as dedicated devices. We look forwarding to demonstrating our products and presenting a best practice seminar, to delegates at the show.”

With Skyguard’s MySOS, VINCI’s lone working staff are able to call for help at the touch of a button VINCI Facilities, part of VINCI – the world leaders in construction, has adopted Skyguard’s personal safety service to mitigate potential risk to all of their lone workers.            Using Skyguard’s MySOS, Europe’s smallest and lightest personal alarm, VINCI’s lone working staff are able to call for help at the touch of a button, wherever they are, whenever. VINCI Facilities provide services to a variety of sectors including Housing, Education and Healthcare and understand the risks faced by their lone workers.  For example, VINCI’s Resident Liaison Officers work alone and visit domestic properties across a wide array of locations from rural to inner city.  Josephine O’Connor, Business & Community Investment Manager for VINCI Facilities set about sourcing a BS 8484 approved lone worker personal safety service to backup and protect their lone working employees. Josephine explains why. “Our Officers encounter persons from all walks of life and may find themselves alone and in awkward situations such as in known areas of high-risk.” Upon extensive research and after deliberation, Skyguard were awarded the contract to provide 24 hour emergency backup via their fully accredited MySOS personal safety device. The MySOS, which fits easily onto a set of keys or carried on a belt holster, allows users to raise an alarm at the press of a button should they feel threatened or their safety is compromised. "Skyguard’s CSC portal allows client administrators or end-users to create and update their account details in real-time, 24/7" The alarm is immediately sent to Skyguard’s own purpose-built Incident Management Centre (IMC) where Controllers will listen-in, locate the user, assess the situation and take appropriate action, including escalating to the emergency services. When tracking options are enabled, the MySOS device will also automatically record and transmit its GPS locations at set intervals, or manually by the press of a button on the device. These positions can be viewed on a map with grid references, in real-time, via Skyguard’s Customer Service Centre (CSC) online portal. Speaking as to why Skyguard was the preferred choice, Josephine said, “The real-time link to the emergency services and the fact that the Controllers can hear what is happening is a real comforter. In a genuine emergency situation they’ll despatch the appropriate services to your aid. This is the assurance we wanted and exactly why we chose Skyguard.  “The offering of two-way communication, GPS location and emergency dispatch all in one device, ensures the complete safety of our staff in areas of risk. And the fact that Skyguard links directly to the Emergency Services and recordings are admissible in court were deal-makers!  “On top of that, the security of knowing that we control all the parameters via Skyguard’s Customer Service Centre and that we can tailor the response for every scenario from mild risks to emergencies, really set Skyguard apart from all others. Skyguard’s CSC portal allows client administrators or end-users to create and update their account details in real-time, 24/7. Clients can input their own emergency procedures, tailored to their organisation and department, or personalised to each employee. "Skyguard is the preferred lone worker solution provider for leading organisations in every market sector" Josephine continues, “The CSC portal gives me the management data I need to be able to keep my staff safe and it also offers the geography of my teams. This has the added benefit of enabling me to better manage their time to serve our clients. “Although we have set procedures to follow for the health and safety of all our employees and customers, we did have one incident where a staff member felt vulnerable. By using the MySOS, it gave them added confidence to better handle the situation knowing they were not alone.” Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray added “Skyguard is the preferred lone worker solution provider for leading organisations in every market sector, so we are delighted VINCI Facilities have chosen us to protect their most vulnerable employees.”

Skyguard’s ACPO accredited MySOS allows Council’s employees to raise alarm and call for help in any emergency situation Skyguard, Europe’s premier personal safety service, are providing Brent Council’s frontline lone working staff with 24 hour backup and assistance. The Council’s employees can raise the alarm anytime via the use of Skyguard’s ACPO accredited MySOS personal safety device – giving them a simple yet effective way to call for help in any emergency situation. The Council provide a wide range of community services to the public within their Inner London borough boundaries. Some of these services require the Council’s employees to work alone, occasionally in difficult circumstances. Conscious of their Duty of Care towards the safety and wellbeing of their staff, Brent Council needed a form of personal protection for their lone workers. They required a small, easy to use personal alarm which enables the user to discreetly raise the alarm should they face any difficulties. The MySOS, Europe’s smallest personal alarm, comes fully equipped with the latest mobile phone and tracking technology. At the touch of a button, the Council’s employees can quickly and discreetly call for help. Upon alarm activation, Controllers at Skyguard’s 24 hour manned Incident Management Center can see who’s calling for help. They’ll use the two way audio capability to listen in and assess the situation, talk to and reassure them and send the appropriate emergency response. As the MySOS is fitted with GPS tracking technology, Controllers can see the user’s exact position as shown via an on-screen map – vital for guiding the emergency response to their location. What’s more, all calls and actions are digitally recorded and can be used as legal evidence. Alarms can also be raised when the MySOS’s ‘Mandown’ feature detects a slip, trip or heavy impact – vital if the employee is unable to call for help themselves. Skyguard’s service is fully audited and approved against BS8484:2011 and as such, guarantees the highest level of Police response when required. Skyguard will also bypass the 999 emergency system, saving vital minutes in responding to an emergency. Mike Somers, Regeneration Officer for Brent Council explains why they chose Skyguard. “Right from the start, we found Skyguard’s advice helpful and informative. The sheer helpfulness from meeting with them and advising us what was best for our needs stood out from all others.” As the MySOS is fitted with GPS tracking technology, Controllers can see the user’s exact position as shown via an on-screen map, vital for guiding the emergency response to their location “The devices are issued to staff working on housing estates and visiting various site locations. They can contact Skyguard’s Controllers at any time they are on their visits and the alarm utilizes various mobile phone network suppliers to ensure they remain in contact. Some lone working products do not have the facility to do this.” Skyguard’s Marketing Director, Will Murray added “In the past couple of years, we’ve witnessed a dramatic change in perception to employee personal protection, especially from local authorities. With legislation continuing to evolve, organizations – be it public or private sector, can no longer afford to ignore the safety and wellbeing of their lone workers. “As a result, we now work with over 75 Councils nationwide in safeguarding their lone workers, including many long-term customers and it’s a number that continues to grow on a monthly basis.”